**Executive Summary**
This Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, effective February 19, 2019, outlines the requirements and procedures for conducting proficiency checks for Air Traffic Services personnel. It aims to ensure that air traffic controllers meet competency standards as stipulated in the Aircraft Rules 1937. The Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) must submit records of proficiency checks to the DGCA semi-annually, by July 15th and January 15th.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose & Scope:**
* Details the guidance, requirements and procedures to be followed for conducting proficiency checks.
* Applicable to air navigation service providers (ANSP), air traffic controller license holders, and examiners.
* **General Requirements:**
* ANSP must ensure air traffic controllers meet competency requirements through proficiency checks conducted by authorized examiners.
* ANSP must develop and follow procedures for conducting proficiency checks for each unit, license holder, and rating.
* Proficiency checks must occur at least annually, with no more than twelve months between consecutive checks.
* In cases of skill assessments due to lapsed ratings, the next proficiency check must be within twelve months of the skill assessment.
* Guidelines and procedures are based on the adapted competency model developed in accordance with the ICAO competency framework.
* **Proficiency Check Proforma & Evaluation:**
* ANSP shall develop proficiency check proformas for all ratings specified in Schedule III of the Aircraft Rules 1937.
* Proficiency is assessed in safety performance, skill, knowledge, and observable behaviors.
* ANSP develops a mechanism to evaluate air traffic controllers' performance during proficiency checks.
* **Performance Improvement Programme (PIP):**
* If a controller's performance is unsatisfactory, the ANSP must ensure they do not exercise rating privileges until satisfactory completion of a PIP.
* ANSP shall develop a PIP to bring the performance of controllers to a satisfactory level.
* The duration and contents of PIP training shall be determined by the ANSP based on the examiner's report.
* An assessment board constituted by the ANSP shall assess the controller's performance after PIP training.
* **Records:**
* ANSP must submit copies of proficiency check records conducted in the preceding six months to DGCA:
* By July 15th for checks from January 1st to June 30th.
* By January 15th for checks from July 1st to December 31st.
* ANSP must maintain and preserve proficiency check records for at least five years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for developing and implementing procedures for proficiency checks, ensuring compliance with the CAR, submitting records to the DGCA, and conducting Performance Improvement Programs.
* **Action Required:** Develop proficiency check proformas and evaluation methods; ensure checks are conducted at least annually; implement PIP if necessary; submit records to DGCA by July 15th and January 15th, maintain records for at least five years.
**Air Traffic Controllers**
* **Impact:** Must undergo proficiency checks to maintain their license and ratings, and may be subject to Performance Improvement Programs if their performance is found to be unsatisfactory.
* **Action Required:** Maintain competency and participate in proficiency checks, engage with required Performance Improvement Programs if needed.
**DGCA**
* **Impact:** Receives and reviews proficiency check records from ANSPs to oversee compliance with the CAR.
* **Action Required:** Review the records to ensure compliance.
**Examiners**
* **Impact:** Conduct proficiency checks and assess the performance of air traffic controllers, providing reports that inform decisions about continued licensing and potential PIP requirements.
* **Action Required:** Conduct proficiency checks according to established procedures, submit detailed reports of findings to ANSP.
Key Entities Referenced
Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP): Responsible for ensuring competency of air traffic controllers through proficiency checks.
Aircraft Rules 1937: Governing regulations for aviation, particularly concerning air traffic controller licenses and proficiency checks.
Air Traffic Controllers Licensing Directorate: Directorate responsible for regulating the licensing of Air Traffic Controllers.
Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR): Document that lays down the guidance, requirements and procedures to be followed for conducting proficiency checks.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The civil aviation authority responsible for regulating air transport services and enforcing air safety regulations in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION
TECHNICAL CENTRE, OPP SAFDARJANG AIRPORT, NEW DELHI
CIVIL AVIATION REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 9 – AIRSPACE AND AIR
NAVIGATION SERVICES STANDARDS EFFECTIVE: FORTHWITH
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS LICENSING F.No.DGCA-21048/13/2018-ANS
DIRECTORATE 21035(11)/27/2025-ATCO
SERIES L PART IV
ISSUE I, 19TH FEBRUARY 2019
Subject: Proficiency check for personnel of Air Traffic Services.
1. Introduction
1.1. Rule 107 of the Aircraft Rules 1937 stipulates that the holder of an air traffic controller’s licence
has to meet the competency requirement to exercise the privileges associated with the license and
rating(s) endorsed on his license.
1.2. The maintenance of competency of a rated air traffic controller, may be considered complied by
satisfactory demonstration of skill and knowledge during proficiency check.
1.3 Sub rule 4 of rule 112 stipulates that the Director General may determine the manner in which
the proficiency check shall be carried out.
1.4 This Civil Aviation Requirement lays down the guidance, requirements and procedures to be
followed for conducting proficiency checks.
1.5 This CAR is issued under the provisions of rule 29C, sub rule (1) of rule 107, sub rule (4) of rule
112 and Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules 1937.
Definitions:
Adapted competency model: A group of competencies with their associated description and
performance criteria adapted from an ICAO competency framework that an organization uses to
develop competency-based training and assessment for a given role.
Competency: A dimension of human performance that is used to reliably predict successful
performance on the job. A competency is manifested and observed through behaviours that mobilize
the relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes to carry out activities or tasks under specified conditions.
Competency-based training and assessment: Training and assessment that are characterized by
a performance orientation, emphasis on standards of performance and their measurement, and the
development of training to the specified performance standards.
Competency standard: A level of performance that is defined as acceptable when assessing
Rev.1 dated-------whether or not competency has been achieved.
ICAO competency framework: A competency framework, developed by ICAO, is a selected group
of competencies for a given aviation discipline. Each competency has an associated description and
observable behaviours.
Monitoring: A cognitive process to compare an actual to an expected state.
Note– Monitoring is embedded in the competencies for a given role within an aviation discipline,
which serve as countermeasures in the threat and error management model. It requires knowledge,
skills and attitudes to create a mental model and to take appropriate action when deviations are
recognized.
Observable Behaviour (OB): A single role-related behaviour that can be observed and may or may
not be measurable.
Performance criteria: Statements used to assess whether the required levels of performance have
been achieved for a competency. A performance criterion consists of an observable behaviour,
condition(s) and a competency standard.
Rated air traffic controller: An air traffic controller holding a licence and valid ratings appropriate
to the privileges to be exercised.
2. Applicability
The provisions of this CAR are applicable to air navigation service provider, holders of air traffic
controller’s licence and examiners.
3. General
3.1 The ANSP shall ensure that the privileges granted by the license/ ratings,are not exercised by
the air traffic controller’s licence holder unless he fulfills competency requirement through proficiency
checks by authorized examiners.
3.2 ANSP must develop and follow the procedure for conducting proficiency check for each unit for
all the license holders and for every rating endorsed on the air traffic controller’s license.
3.3 The frequency of proficiency check shall be at least once in a year from the date of endorsement
of each rating on air traffic controller’s licence. It shall be ensured that the interval between two
consecutive proficiency checks is not more than twelve months.
Note: In cases where a Skill Assessment is conducted for an ATC rating due to a lapse in
rating/recency or as part of a competency requirement, the next proficiency check for that specific
rating shall be conducted within twelve months from the date of the Skill Assessment.
3.4 Guidelines and procedures formed on the basis of adapted competency model developed in
accordance with ICAO competency framework ensuring competency based training and assessment
for development and implementation of proficiency check, evaluation method, performance
improvement programme and its record keeping shall be documented in Rating training manual.
Rev.1 2 dated ----
24. Guidelines for development of proficiency check proforma and evaluation method
4.1 To standardize the assessment of proficiency checks, ANSP shall develop proficiency check
proformas for all the ratings specified in Schedule- III of the Aircraft Rules 1937 with respect to each
unit. Proficiency shall be assessed at least in areas: safety performance area; skill; knowledge; and
attributes/observable behavior (Maintaining attention, situation awareness and work load) which
forms performance criteria to demonstrate acceptable competency standard.
4.2 ANSP may decide the evaluation method based on actual monitoring for each performance area
for objective evaluation as per their requirement.
5. Evaluation of proficiency check
5.1 ANSP shall develop a mechanism to evaluate the performance of air traffic controllers during
proficiency check against each area specified in para 4.1.
5.2 If the controller’s overall performance is found unsatisfactory in proficiency check, ANSP shall
ensure that ATCO licence holder does not exercise the privileges of rating of that particular unit
unless found satisfactory after Performance Improvement Programme (PIP).
6. Performance Improvement Programme
6.1 In order to bring the performance of controllers to a satisfactory level, the ANSP shall develop a
PIP.
6.2 The duration and contents of PIP training shall be determined by the ANSP on the basis of report
submitted by examiner.
6.3 After completion of PIP training, an assessment board duly constituted by the ANSP shall assess
the controller’s performance. The Board shall consist of at least three members one of which shall
be examiner/instructor of that ATS unit.
6.4 On being satisfied with the controller’s performance, the controller may be permitted to exercise
the privileges of the rating of that particular rating.
7. Records
7.1 ANSP must submit one copy of records of proficiency checks conducted in the preceding six
months to DGCA as follows:
i. By 15th July- for proficiency checks conducted from 1st January to 30th June
ii. By 15th January- for proficiency checks conducted from 1st July to 31st December.
7.2 The ANSP shall ensure that proficiency check records of all individuals are maintained and
preserved for at least five years.
(Faiz Ahmed Kidwai)
Director General of Civil Aviation
Rev.1 2 dated ----
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